In June 2024 Kikkoman broke ground in Jefferson on a $560 million plant which is expected to begin producing soy sauce and related seasonings such as teriyaki sauce in early 2026. The plant will be the company’s third, with one in Walworth and the other in California. It is planned to be a high-tech, energy efficient factory and is projected to create over 80 jobs.

In celebration of Kikkoman’s investment, the City of Jefferson has planned a new event celebrating Japanese cuisine. The Japan-America Society of Wisconsin is also assisting with the event. The Kikkoman Cookout will take place from 12-6 p.m., Saturday, July 19, at Rotary Waterfront Park, 227 S. Gardner Ave. All ages are welcome to the free event.

According to the Daily Jefferson County Union, Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann said that when the Kikkoman plant groundbreaking took place last year, the soy sauce company brought in an authentic Japanese drum group, and the spectacle so impressed local leaders that they started looking into the idea of bringing in more Japanese entertainment. “We wanted to welcome Kikkoman into the Jefferson community,” Oppermann said. “There’s a lot our community doesn’t know about the new company coming in, and there’s a lot the company doesn’t know about our community. We thought, what about having an event that brings the two together and celebrates the Japanese culture at Kikkoman’s roots?”

The schedule includes:

12:00 – Opening of the event – Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, a member of the Japan America Society, a Kikkoman advisory board member and a longtime backer of the company, is scheduled to be present.

12:30 – Beni Daiko Drumming will perform

2:30 – Hibiki Taiko Drumming Performs

4:30 – Koto Strings performance

The publicity is unclear — starting at either noon or 2 p.m. there will be free samples of barbecue and other American foods, using Kikkoman sauces. Throughout the fest, there will be authentic Japanese cuisine on sale, as well as American food, produced by food trucks and restaurateurs from the Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago areas. Along with the grilling samples and the food trucks, there will also be beverages available on site for children and adults. There will be Kona Ice, in a nod to the Japanese tradition of serving shaved ice, and adult drinks including Japanese beer and non-alcoholic “Asahi.”

Chad Holpfer, parks and recreation director for the City of Jefferson, said that in keeping with the city’s goal of offering family-friendly events, there will be lots of activities appropriate for children and all ages.